FIRE Danger in the Lincoln National Forest has been increased to EXTREME  The Lincoln National Forest will be closing on May 1, 2008. For the full release please read here. For up-to date NM road conditions call Road Advisory Hotline: 1.800.432.4269
Ruidoso	Ruidoso Downs	Lincoln National Forest/Ft. Stanton
Mescalero	Lincoln County	Explanation of Fire Restrictions

Ruidoso

Fire Restrictions for the Village of Ruidoso
Effective 05/1/08

Due to the continued severe, dry weather conditions and our very high fire danger, Ruidoso is now in Level III Fire Restrictions:

• No open flame or fire of any kind including charcoal briquettes or gas grills on any public or private property.

• No outside smoking on public or private property.

• Smoking must occur within closed vehicles or indoors.

• Campfires are not allowed.

• Fireworks are never allowed.

Citations will be issued - no exceptions and no warnings.

Fire evacuation procedures for Village of Ruidoso

Fire evacuation MAP for Village of Ruidoso

 

Ruidoso Downs

Fire Restrictions for the City of Ruidoso Downs
Effective 05/1/08

Due to the continued severe, dry weather conditions and our very high fire danger, Ruidoso Downs is now in Level III Fire Restrictions:

• No open flame or fire of any kind including charcoal briquettes or gas grills on any public or private property.

• No outside smoking on public or private property.

• Smoking must occur within closed vehicles or indoors.

• Campfires are not allowed.

• Fireworks are never allowed.

Citations will be issued - no exceptions and no warnings.

Lincoln National Forest

FIRE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE CLOSURE ORDER FOR LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2008.

Alamogordo, N.M. (April 22, 2008) – As fire danger increases in southeastern New Mexico, Fire Management Officials with the Lincoln National Forest (LNF) will close the forest for public access and use.

The LNF closure order signed by Acting Forest Supervisor Jacqueline Buchanan goes into effect, 8:00 a.m., May 1, 2008.

“Extremely dry conditions have warranted closure of the entire Lincoln National Forest, said Jacqueline Buchanan, Acting Forest Supervisor. “Closures in the past have proven to be an effective means of reducing the number of human-caused fires,” she said. “While campfire and smoking restrictions have been effective in terms of minimizing the number of fires, we are at the point that we cannot afford the risk of any human-caused fires. We are not only concerned about the risk to communities and natural resources, we are concerned about the potential difficulties evacuating recreationists from remote areas should a wildfire start,” she said.

The Sacramento Ranger District concessionaire campgrounds, along with the Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor’s Center, Sunspot, NM, will remain open. Guests who utilize the Forest concessionaire campgrounds are reminded they cannot access Forest lands for recreation purposes. Also, within the concessionaire campgrounds the use of petroleum fueled stoves for cooking purposes, along with lanterns or heating devices are authorized because these devices are not considered fires, provided such devices meet the Fire Underwriter’s specifications for safety.

The following Sacramento Ranger District concessionaire campgrounds will be OPEN: Silver, Saddle, Apache, Sleepy Grass, Deerhead, Pines campground and the Aspen Group, Black Bear Group, Slide Group and Fir Group sites. The following areas are CLOSED: Trestle Recreation Area, Karr Canyon Picnic Site, Sleepy Grass Picnic Site, Upper Karr Campground, all vistas, all trailheads and all dispersed sites.

The use of all other campgrounds, day use picnic areas and cabins on the Forest are closed.
All National Forest System Roads will be closed, but all interstates, state and county roads through the Lincoln National Forest will remain open.
The following applies to the Smokey Bear, Sacramento and Guadalupe Ranger Districts:

• Going into or being upon an area closed to public use. Areas closed to public use are all National Forest lands within the Smokey Bear, Sacramento and Guadalupe Ranger District. These areas are outlined on maps designating the specific areas and hereby made a part of this Closing Order.

The following persons are exempt from this order:



• Any Federal, State or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• Residents living within the closed area and their guests, landowners or lessees of land within the closed area for access to their owned or leased property.
• Persons engaged in a business delivering goods, packages or services to private property or contractors performing services for the government.
• Persons with a written and approved entry permit or authorization letter, i.e., Grazing Permittees.


Contact the Forest Supervisor or District Ranger Officer for additional information on restrictions or special use permit availability.
The use of Fireworks is strictly prohibited on all National Forest System Lands.

The Lincoln National Forest will reopen to the public when sufficient precipitation is received to adequately reduce our extremely dry conditions and reduce the risk of wildfire to a manageable level. A significant amount of moisture will be required to reduce the extreme fire danger on the Lincoln National Forest.

The area closures do not affect Federal and State Highways that lead into the mountain communities. Please do not stop on the sides of any highways. Property owners and their guests will continue to have access to private lands within the Forest.

Contact the local chambers of commerce or arts councils for the City of Alamogordo, Villages of Cloudcroft, Tularosa, Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Mayhill, Sacramento, Weed, Timberon, Capitan and Queen to obtain a calendar of events. Visitors are encouraged to visit these mountain communities.

“Even though the forest is closed, this closure action is not permanent,” said Ruidoso Mayor L. Ray Nunley, “We encourage visitors to visit Ruidoso and our mountain communities and remind them that safety for our visitors and citizens is first and foremost.” Special events will be occurring in Ruidoso over the next several months to include the “4th Annual Smokey Bear Days” – May 2-3, in Capitan; the Aspencash Motorcycle Run & Trade Show – Ruidoso Convention Center - May 15-18 and Ruidoso Downs Racetrack: Opening Day – May 23, 2008.

The following offices can provide information on upcoming events:
Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce - (575) 682-2733
Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce- (575) 257-7395
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce – (575) 887-6516

Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559 and 3571.

To report a fire, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-695-1663 or (575) 434-2286 or dial 911.
For more information on current fire restrictions on public lands in New Mexico and Arizona, call 1-877-864-6985. This is a toll-free hotline sponsored by natural resource agencies in the Southwest.

For more information about the Fire Closure Order or the Lincoln National Forest, please contact the Supervisor’s Office at (575) 434-7200, or one of the following District Offices at:
- Smokey Bear Ranger District – (575) 257-4095
- Sacramento Ranger District Office – (575) 682-2551
- Carlsbad Ranger District Office – (575) 885-4181
All offices are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 http://www.nmfireinfo.com For more information on the Lincoln National Forest, please visit our website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln.

LINCOLN COUNTY

RESOLUTION NUMBER 2007-30
DECLARATION OF FIRE DANGER EMERGENCY

(In accordance with Lincoln County Ordinances No. 2003-06 & 2004-01)

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County, New Mexico, has determined that, due to conditions of prolonged drought, the present fire danger is currently high and going to very high within the County of Lincoln as indicated by the Boise Fire Center in Missoula, Montana, and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County has further determined that, in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Lincoln County; the Board took emergency action at its meeting March 18, 2008; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County, New Mexico, hereby proclaims a ban on all burning of open flames, fires, campfires (except in designated areas), trash, rubbish, shrubbery or other material of any kind, except by permit, and hereby bans the sale or use of display fireworks and the sale and use of missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, stick-type rockets and ground audible devices within the affected unincorporated drought areas. In addition, all fireworks not listed in this paragraph shall be limited to areas that are paved or barren or that have a readily accessible source of water for use by the homeowner or the general public. Fireplaces & in particular the unquenched ashes from same, may present a significant hazard and use should be discouraged during this period of drought. This Resolution is to remain in effect for 30 days or until rescinded or extended by the Board of County Commissioners pursuant to NMSA 60-2C-8.1.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of March 2008.

MESCALERO Class IV Fire Restrictions in Effect (4/11/08)

Current Fire activity in the Southwest